Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola who stormed US Capitol jailed for 10 years

A Proud Boy who led the US Capitol riot by smashing his means into the advanced with a police defend earlier than he filmed himself puffing a celebratory cigar has been sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Dominic Pezzola, a 46-year-old former US Marine, fought with officers throughout the raid on Congress on 6 January 2021.

He was convicted of assaulting police and obstructing an official continuing.

Another Proud Boy, Ethan Nordean, faces sentencing on a extra critical seditious conspiracy cost on Friday.

A selfie video taken on the day of the riot exhibits Pezzola smoking what he described as a “victory cigar” within the Capitol constructing.

During Friday’s sentencing, an emotional Pezzola expressed some regret for his actions. His spouse, daughter and mom all addressed the choose, along with his mom describing him as having been a “wonderful child” that “never gave me any trouble”.

Pezzola’s spouse mentioned that her daughters have turn out to be victims of harassment and bullying at college.

But as soon as the jail time period had been handed down and the choose had left the room, Pezzola shouted: “Trump won!”

The Proud Boys – which began as a “drinking club” seven years in the past – noticed themselves as Donald Trump’s foot-soldiers and had been among the many first to march on the Capitol on the day of the riot.

Trump supporters overran police strains and stormed the constructing in a bid to stop Congress from ratifying Joe Biden’s election victory.

Pezzola and Nordean went to trial alongside three different members of the organisation, together with former chairman Enrique Tarrio and US navy veterans Joe Biggs and Zachary Rehl.

On Thursday, Biggs and Rehl had been sentenced to 17 and 15 years in jail respectively.

Tarrio is because of be sentenced subsequent week. He faces as much as 33 years in jail.

Of the 5, Pezzola was the one one acquitted of seditious conspiracy, a cost utilized to defendants for plotting to overthrow the federal government or use drive “to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States”.

Prosecutors, nevertheless, argued that Pezzola’s violence on the riot warranted a stiff sentence.

“Pezzola’s actions and testimony leave no doubt that he intended to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. “He committed crimes of terrorism on January 6.”

On Friday, Judge Timothy Kelly instructed Pezzola he had “played a significant role” within the Capitol riot, even when he was not in a management function within the Proud Boys.

“It was a national disgrace, what happened,” Judge Kelly mentioned.

During the trial, a combative Pezzola had repeatedly downplayed his actions throughout the riot, arguing the group had been “trespassing protesters” somewhat than an “invading force”.

He additionally instructed jurors that his actions that day had been defined by his reverting to navy coaching when he noticed police use non-lethal munitions to attempt to disperse the group.

“In the military and Marine Corps, you don’t ever turn around and run away,” Pezzola mentioned.

“You’re conditioned not to think about the flight response. You’re conditioned to run toward the danger.”

The second Proud Boy because of be sentenced on Friday, Ethan Nordean, was thought of a frontrunner within the organisation.

During the trial, prosecutors mentioned he helped organise the group earlier than and throughout the riot, together with by asking for donations for communications tools and “protective gear”.

More than 1,100 have been arrested on riot-related prices, leading to 630 responsible pleas and over 110 convictions.

The longest jail sentence thus far – 18 years – was doled out to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes in May.